Lumps and Bumps

It seems almost unfathomable that I found out that I was pregnant just one year ago.  

It was right here, looking at this view, that Glenn and I officially decided to start “trying."  We were in Scotland, and my brother had just announced that they were expecting baby #3.  I clapped and cheered and reacted like most aunts would.  Glenn?  Glenn had an entirely different reaction.  He didn’t even tell them congratulations.  He looked at me, eyebrows raised, and exclaimed “SERIOUSLY? Seriously.  They’re going to have THREE babies, and we have none.  We can’t even compete!"  Needless to say, after quite a few long conversations, we decided-in a park overlooking Edinburgh Castle- that we would go for it.  Two months later I was officially knocked up. 

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

In August (2011) I gave Glenn the best birthday present EVER.  He came home to find a trail made of string, and after following it all over the house the trail led to this:

A bun in an oven.  And a wrapped up (positive) pregnancy test.  He was pretty stoked- though he didn’t seem to give a lick about those awesome running shoes I bought him as well.  

So it was official.  We were going to be parents. And we were ready for it.  

THE WAIT

What I was not ready for?  The reality of pregnancy.  

The first trimester was the worst.  I was nauseous the whole time.  Remember how I wrote about our awesome last trip to the Lake District? (click HERE for the link) Yeah, well, I didn’t say anything about how morning sickness and small windy roads don’t mix too well.  I’m convinced that the Lord created morning sickness to strip women of their pride and vanity.  There’s something about throwing up in a hedge with your friends behind you, cars driving past, and rain pouring down all around that just exercises that humility muscle.  

As a side note- I realize that the “experts" say that you don’t actually have to consume any extra calories until your third trimester, but if that’s true, then WHY do you get SO HUNGRY?! I’m not talking a little peckish here either.  I mean wake up in the middle of the night, feed me now or I will totally freak out kind of hungry.  I’m a little embarrased to admit this, but my poor husband used to wake up in the morning and find food crumbles all over the pillowcases from when I would have to snack in the middle of the night.  And let me just be real here guys- food particles all over your body in the morning is just plain NOT sexy.  

Let’s move on. (Yes Please is probably what you’re all thinking)

We were in Louisiana for my second and third trimester, and those six months went pretty well for the most part.  My nesting phase took the form of a very strange crafting habit (I made a lot of wreaths) and an obsession with organization tubs (we should have bought stock in rubbermaid).  I also distinctly remember SOBBING watching this video about an elephant and her dog friend.  It was not a pretty picture.

THE UNEXPECTED

I’ll have to admit though, the biggest surprise of all was just how big I got.  I realize now how foolish I was, but before getting pregnant I really thought that I was going to be one of those “gracefully enlarging" ladies.  I fantasized about walking around in my stilettos, showing off my little Lump, and looking like a glowing goddess.  Oh how far from reality that was.  I wasn’t even six months when people started asking me if I was having twins (or triplets, or if I was-in fact-carrying an elephant-true story).  By 7.5 things were starting to get out of control.  

Then one morning at the beginning of my  eighth month I stepped outside for my morning walk and noticed how humid it had gotten outside.  Summer starts in March in South Louisiana, and with summer comes humidity.  Well, humidity+Brittany+pregnancy=beluga whale syndrome.  That’s right.  In the vernacular, I “swolled." My feet went up three sizes and my belly reached epic proportions.  

Honestly though, I didn’t really mind all that much (though I did mourn a little for the ugly slaughter of my glowing goddess fantasy).

 I loved having that little guy inside of me, and I loved how strangers would smile whenever they saw that I was pregnant.  There is something about new life that can bring joy to even the grumpiest of people, and I am so thankful to have experienced that.  I had my fair share of aches and pains, but I felt great for the majority of the time.  But mostly, I just felt very honored and blessed to carry such a monumental responsibility.  I carried an immortal soul- one whom the Lord had entrusted into my care, and there is nothing more humbling than that knowledge.